Fresh payroll records have reportedly shown that the late Mary Habila and her colleague, Anita Baaki, were listed as employees of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS), Uburu, Ebonyi State, and received salaries through the Federal Government’s Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS).
The development comes amid continued public interest in the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death at the residence of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, on June 27, 2026.
According to the payroll records, both women were employed by the university despite reportedly working at the Minister’s office, a claim that has fueled further questions about the nature of their appointments.
The documents also reportedly indicate that Habila and Baaki were among hundreds of university staff members listed without National Housing Fund (NHF) account numbers.
Previous reports had alleged that Habila was employed as a Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW), contrary to earlier claims that she worked as a physiotherapist.
The payroll records also reportedly support claims that Baaki, who later submitted a sworn affidavit detailing the events leading to Habila’s death, was similarly employed by the university.
Earlier, professional bodies disputed claims that Habila was a registered physiotherapist. The Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy stated that after verifying its records through the appropriate regulatory channels, her name was not found in its database of licensed practitioners.
The clarification contradicted an earlier statement from the Minister’s media office, which had described both Habila and Baaki as physiotherapists employed by DUFUHS and seconded to the Federal Ministry of Works.
In her affidavit, Baaki stated that she had worked with David Umahi since his tenure as Governor of Ebonyi State before securing employment at DUFUHS. She also said she and Habila had worked together under the Minister for about three years and travelled with other staff members from Abuja to Ebonyi shortly before Habila’s death.
Meanwhile, investigations into the circumstances surrounding Habila’s death remain ongoing.
The Ebonyi State Police Command has maintained that a forensic autopsy is necessary to determine the exact cause of death before the body can be released for burial, acting on legal advice from the state’s Director of Public Prosecutions.
However, Habila’s family has continued to oppose the autopsy, insisting they are not accusing anyone of wrongdoing and only want her remains released for burial. The family has also filed legal documents seeking the release of her body without a post-mortem examination.
Minister David Umahi has denied any wrongdoing and stated that he supports a comprehensive forensic investigation to establish the cause of Habila’s death, urging the public to allow the authorities to complete their investigation.
